The Curates Egg

Looking Back (?) to 2005

Prologue

It's at this time of year that I get a bit annoyed about a particular aspect of the film business - the delay between the release of films in the United States and over here. I hesitate to clarify the reasons for my annoyance because I realise it doesn't matter much in the great scheme of things (so please feel free to skip the rest of this prologue) – but at the risk of appearing finicky let me explain. As a New Year begins our natural desire is to put together a list of our favourite films of the previous year (OK maybe not everybody's desire) – the problem is that in this country even in February we can't possibly have seen all the films released in 2005 because many of them haven't hit UK cinemas yet. This may be a minor annoyance, but we then enter the awards season for 2005 films - only to find that many of those nominated have still not been released here! So at the Golden Globes last month the big winner (Brokeback Mountain) had only been released here the previous week, and more ironically at the British Academy awards ceremony on February 19^th two of those nominated for best film will only be released in Britain this month  - one of them (Capote) the week after the ceremony!

Sideways

Ranting aside (sorry), my favourite film released in the UK during 2005 was 'Sideways' (cert. 15). Not just because it's about wine (although that helped) but because it's entertaining, thoughtful, moving – and often extremely funny. Two very different friends go on a week's tour of Californian vineyards. One is desperately insecure but also clever, amusing and a genuine wine expert. The other is friendly and extrovert but also not very bright and is more interested in the women they meet (hence the 15 certificate) than the wine. It may be a little slow for some but it is a superb character study, and the excellent acting enables us  eventually not just to laugh at, but also to empathise with, this deeply flawed but realistically human couple. The trip becomes a voyage of discovery for both of them - and the wine becomes a symbol for the meaning they are seeking – something we ought to be able to relate to also!  

Film Group

My top ten for 2005 would also include 'Crash', which was the first film we went to see with our Advent Film Group. I say 'group' but for various reasons only Diane and I made it for the first trip! Numbers grew for the following trips however and seven of went to see 'Ladies in Lavender' (Judi Dench and Maggie Smith) the second week, twelve made it for 'The Lion the witch and the Wardrobe' and there were fourteen of us for our final trip to see'On a Clear Day' (a "cross between The Full Monty and Billy Elliot").

We saw both the first and the last films at the Guildhall in Gloucester and my thanks to Donald Hollins for his Arts Ambassador scheme which enabled us to get reduced rate tickets.

Epilogue

Those who came seemed to enjoy both the films and the discussion in the pub afterwards so I shall certainly be arranging similar trips in 2006 (not necessarily in Advent). I look forward to seeing what films 2006 has in store for us (or what 2005 films reach us in 2006!) and hope you are able to join us at some stage. 

Tim